The American Gas Association (AGA) is a trade group for natural gas utilities companies. Founded in 1989, AGA has 501(c)(6) status and lobbies for pro-methane gas legislation. It represents several large and multi-national methane gas companies, while touting its "local" connection on its website. In 2010, AGA spent $980,000 lobbying the federal government.[1]

AGA's 2009 gross revenue was almost $49 million. Its former President and CEO, David N. Parker, received a total of $1.38 million from AGA and its associated organizations in 2009.[2]

ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

AGA and Fracking

Many AGA corporations are involved in the controversial practice of fracking for methane gas in the Northeastern U.S. in the Marcellus Shale region and elsewhere. Though lauded as an environmentally-friendly alternative to coal, fracking for gas has been linked to depleting drinking water resources of local communities and polluting the wells of the people living around drill sites. According to a 2010 article in Vanity Fair, "as use of the technique (fracking) has spread, it has been followed by incidents of water contamination and environmental degradation, and even devastating health problems." [5] And according to data released to the EPA, Halliburton, a major supplier of fracking fluid, admitted using 807,000 gallons of diesel-based chemicals in its fluids, in violation of an agreement drillers had with the EPA.[6]

Natural Gas Act 2011

H.R. 1380, also called the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act, or the “NAT GAS Act,” is a bipartisan measure that would give provide federal tax cuts for vehicles powered by natural gas. It is a federal bill that was introduced into the 112th Congress by Rep. John Sullivan of (R-OK) and 187 co-sponsors.

"If enacted into law it will extend the tax credit of 50 cents per gallon of liquid natural gas (or its equivalent of compressed natural gas) when used for fueling vehicles, and will provide purchasers of natural gas vehicles with credits ranging from $7,500 (passenger cars) to $64,000 (big trucks). There will also be credits for natural gas vehicle manufacturers and for installing natural gas filling stations."[7]

The bill has been pushed and lobbied for primarily by oil and gas tycoon T. Boone Pickens, as well as AGA, the Natural Gas Alliance and Energy in Depth. They argue that the bill, if passed as is, could help the U.S. reduce its reliance on foreign oil by as much as half.

Lobbying and Political Contributions

In 2010, Open Secrets reports that the AGA PAC spent a total of $424,862 in federal political contributions. House Democrats received $116,500 and House Republicans received $117,500. Senate Democrats received $30,500 and Senate Republicans received $51,500. [8]

Your Energy America

Your Energy America is a pro-natural gas and hydraulic fracturing (a.ka. "fracking) front group run by the American Gas Association (AGA).

Your Energy America was started in Spring, 2017 and states on its website that the organization: "was created to speak out against a misguided movement that assaults our way of life. This movement is based on the simplistic belief that keeping our natural resources in the ground is the only solution to climate change. This isn’t just false — it’s dangerous to our quality of life, economy and energy security."

In audio recordings obtained by Huffington Post of a May 24th Virginia Chamber of Commerce event, Jim Cheng, who served as secretary of commerce under then-Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, spoke on behalf of Your Energy America, saying that Your Energy America, "... was created to raise the energy IQ of Virginians about the many benefits of natural gas. And to try to follow on these radical and uniformed elements within your communities that try to intimidate or shut down pro-energy supporters.”

Members

The members page of AGA's website is not accessible. Some members are known, and they include: